South Plantation girl quarterback stands tall among the boys

Erin DiMeglio makes history in varsity football game

The final minutes of a preseason high school football game aren't always memorable.

But Friday night, when South Plantation High School's third-string quarterback took the field with just under 10 minutes remaining, they were.

That's because the quarterback was 17-year-old, ponytail-wearing Erin DiMeglio, a girl who could make Florida history if she gets a similar opportunity in a regular-season game this year.

After practicing with the team since May, DiMeglio called the plays and completed two passes against Seminole Ridge.

Many longtime observers of Florida high school football say they can't remember seeing a girl play quarterback in an official game. They've seen female kickers, receivers, defensive backs and even an offensive lineman, but never a girl in football's most high-profile position.

Part of her motive to play football is to show college basketball scouts her athletic ability.

"I think schools will see that I can play all sports," said the 5-foot-6, 160-pound senior, whose primary sport is basketball. "Maybe being different will help. They'll remember me as the girl that plays football."

Even state officials are unsure if this has happened before. While the Florida High School Athletic Association tracks the number of athletes who play each sport, it doesn't keep track of their positions.

To date, state records indicate 523 girls have played high school football in Florida since 1973. Only 36 played last year.

"We've had girls in South Florida that had the ability to [play quarterback], but they never have," said Larry Blustein, a high school football analyst who has covered the state for 42 years. "You have to give her credit. I've never seen anything like this before."

DiMeglio joined the team at the urging of her flag football coach, Doug Gatewood, who also coaches the varsity team. He saw her ability and asked her to help with practice.

"I had a girl try out at wide receiver that couldn't make it through practice and I had a kicker that really couldn't make a field goal, so I didn't keep them," Gatewood said. "Erin can actually do what we ask of her. ... She completes the passes I ask, she knows the plays. ... Anything I ask her to do, she does."

But DiMeglio has her critics. She has garnered attention from national high school football blogs, generating both positive and negative reactions online.

Tom DiMeglio warned his daughter that she may hear unfavorable comments. On Friday, opponents were respectful.

"I couldn't take the smile off my face," Erin DiMeglio said. "You'd think the other team would want to know why I'm there, but other players have been great. After the game, they shook my hand and said it was great I was playing football."

That reaction could continue if she gets in against Nova High for South Plantation's opener on Friday. Titans coach Bill Hobbs, who had a female kicker, Jennifer Synnamon, play for him in the late 1990s, understands what DiMeglio faces.

"You have to understand, you're going to be treated as everyone else," Hobbs said. "You're going to dress in a different locker room, but you're part of the game."

DiMeglio has yet to get hit or make a tackle, but her parents understand that's part of football. As the team's third-string quarterback, she knows she may not get much playing time unless South Plantation is winning big.

There's also the risk of injury.

After debating whether to let her join the team, her parents relented after speaking with Gatewood, who promised he would take precautions to keep DiMeglio as safe as possible.

The team runs plays out of special formations and limits the amount of time the ball is in her hands.

DiMeglio's physical play in basketball also helped convince her parents she could handle football. She's already overcome a broken nose, a broken finger, and concussions.

"I've often joked that I wanted her to play basketball with a helmet on," said her mother, Kathleen DiMeglio. "She's no weakling, and I think I have confidence after seeing her strength. But of course my greatest fear is injury."

Erin DiMeglio, who says she tries not to think about getting hurt, jokes that she's willing to treat her offensive line to lunch for protecting her.

"Since she's a girl, you don't want her to get hurt," said lineman Kevin Avila. "We want to have more protection for her."

As DiMeglio walked off the field Friday, fans applauded and camera flashbulbs popped. DiMeglio was unfazed by the commotion. Her coach, however, understood and urged her to remove the helmet obscuring her face.

"Coach, my hair's all messed up," she hesitated.

"Erin, honey, don't worry," Gatewood replied. "You just played football. Get used to it."